Smoke and Mirrors (25 page)

There were more glyphs on the door frame leading out of the apartment. They glimmered an angry, harsh red with the heat burning inside them, ready to toast any unwanted visitors to a crisp. She stared over her shoulder at them as he led her out and into a dim stairwell.

He took her down a couple of flights, then held the door for her leading into his store. Rieva was already waiting, sitting beside the register, her heels drumming against the counter as she stared up at the ceiling. The moment they stepped inside, she hopped down, her pallor somehow more pronounced by the dark circles under her eyes and crackle to her voice as she rushed forward.

“Oh, Kimberly, I am so sorry. I never intended—”

Shocked by the woman’s obvious remorse, Kimberly stopped her tracks, going stiff as the girl grabbed her cheeks and yanked her down to eye level. She hadn’t realized just how short the albino was until she was standing next to her. Kimberly was only average in height, but the top of Rieva’s head barely came up to her shoulder. With all the danger and power she exuded, until that moment Kimberly had thought she was much taller.

Rieva stared deeply into her eyes. The piercing, icy blue so like Cormac’s glimmered with some kind of power. Cormac didn’t make any move to prevent it, either. He kept a steadying hand on Kimberly’s back, but otherwise did nothing to interfere.

There was a bit of pressure near the back of her skull, nothing more. It was the only hint she had that the changeling was digging around in her head. By the time she realized it, the woman was done, her shoulders sagging as she puffed out a breath of relief.

“Good, no permanent damage. You should have full use of your spark again in a day or so.”

Hair prickling with unease, though it was a little late for it, Kimberly scooted closer to Cormac, one hand clutching at him in alarm. He slid his arm around her shoulder.

Rieva pulled back and her eyes widened in surprise. Her sharp look became calculating as she looked back and forth between them.

“Well,” she said, “I won’t keep you long. Truly, I am very sorry for involving Viper. I was hoping it might prompt someone else to act sooner…” Her gaze flicked to Cormac, then away. He made a soft sound between his teeth, almost a hiss, and she took a quick step back. “Never mind that. Let’s just say things didn’t turn out as I intended.”

Kimberly bit her lip before replying, leaning away and fighting the urge to hide behind Cormac. Rieva had the power to see into her thoughts and memories. That was no minor gift. No wonder her power shone like her café’s namesake.

“I’m sure you didn’t,” Kimberly replied, extending a shaking hand. The last thing she wanted to do was offend this woman by spurning her apology. “Everybody makes mistakes. Don’t worry about it.”

Rieva clasped her fingers in both hands, her relieved smile transforming her whole face. It was terrifying how quickly she went from scary to angelic.

“You really are sweet. Continue to be the exception, Kimberly. It will serve you well in the trials ahead.”

Cormac made another low sound in his throat which Rieva took as her cue to change the subject.

“Listen, I brought you some fresh clothes and a few other necessities. If you need a hand and don’t want this big galoot to see you naked, I’ll help you out with a shower and change of clothes.”

He shifted, tightening his grip on Kimberly as he turned a fearsome glare on Rieva that would have sent anyone else cowering under the furniture. The changeling didn’t bat a lash.

“No one’s going to see her naked but me.”

Kimberly huffed, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment. “Oh my God, no one is going to see me naked! I can shower myself!”

Cormac frowned, peering down at her with a wistful expression. “Are you sure? I certainly wouldn’t mind.”

“Sure you wouldn’t,” Rieva said, grinning as Kimberly ducked her face so neither of them could see how her cheeks burned crimson. “She’s the one who minds, you silly oaf. Go count your money for a few minutes, the girls need to talk.”

Fear threaded through Kimberly at that. What on earth could the changeling have to say to her that she couldn’t talk about in front of Cormac?

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Cormac’s fierce expression returned. Rieva returned his stare, not giving an inch. After a long, tense moment, he bared his teeth at her in a semblance of a grin, the warning in it crystal clear.

“Fine,” he ground out. “A few minutes.”

He helped Kimberly over to one of the chairs by the bookshelves, ignoring the impatient tapping of Rieva’s foot as she waited for him to go away. He took his time ensuring Kimberly was settled comfortably, crouching before her as he lightly touched her cheek, giving her a reassuring smile before he rose to head over to the register. He poked through the things Rieva had brought, sniffing at the coffee and making every effort to appear as if he had no interest in their conversation and wasn’t hanging on their every word.

As soon as he was gone, Rieva settled on a nearby footstool, somehow managing to look elegant in her silk and silver and combat boots as she crossed her legs and primly folded her hands over one knee. Her white-blond hair fell in artfully arranged spikes as she leaned forward to stage whisper, knowing full well Cormac was listening in.

“Things may not have turned out as I intended, but I think you’ll get what you were looking for. If not, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve got a laundry list of local Others and even a few out-of-towners who would love to take you up on your offer. As soon as they heard you were legit and meant what you said about only wanting someone temporarily, they came out of the woodwork.”

Kimberly fiddled with the hem of the long shirt, a sudden chill prompting her to roll down the long sleeves over her arms. “I don’t know. I’m still a little freaked out about Viper.”

Rieva shook her head, her expression turning grave. “He was a mistake. A very bad mistake. I didn’t think he was truly stupid enough to try to make a mage his familiar again. If I had checked his intentions, I would have been able to do something about it. It was foolish of me not to, and for that I can’t begin to express my regrets. I know you have your doubts about me—no, no, I saw it when I checked on the progress of your recovery, so don’t try to deny it. You’re right to be afraid. I’m a fucking monster, and I’ll act like it when I think someone is a danger to me or my friends.”

A faint choking noise was the only response Kimberly could come up with, her eyes going wide with shock and not a little fear.

“You have nothing to fear from me, Kimberly. I know what it must look like after our initial introduction, but believe me, I’ve seen enough about you to know you’re not a threat. I have no intention of doing you harm.”

“I’m sorry you don’t like me,” Kimberly muttered. “If you’re just here to apologize, I accept.”

Rieva blew out a breath, leaning back. “No, not exactly. That’s certainly part of it. I was hoping you might be interested in something of a partnership.”

At the look Kimberly gave her, she laughed.

“Hey, I like making money, and I thought you might like to earn a few extra bucks, too. You’d be surprised how many Others jump at the chance to work with a mage they can trust not to trap them in the process. I know enough about you to know you wouldn’t hurt a fly, and I have the contacts to bring in the business, so if you like, we could pool our resources and work together.”

That was one of the last things Kimberly was expecting. A partnership with the bane of her kind? That would take a great deal of thought before jumping into any kind of decision.

Good thing she had nothing but time on her hands while she recovered.

“Are you sure that’s safe?” she ventured.

“You know what I can do and what I’m capable of. I can manage the offers, use my skills to pre-screen and wash out the types like Viper. If I had thought to check beforehand, he never would have heard about you from me. Now that I know what to look for, it will never happen again. Think about it. Could be a lucrative business for you.”

So she wouldn’t continue to look like a gaping idiot, Kimberly nodded, then cleared her throat. Curiosity was getting the better of her now that she was sure Rieva wasn’t going to pull another dagger on her. She wasn’t entirely certain it was a safe topic of conversation, but she wanted to know more about this woman than the few scraps of information Cormac had given her and the rumors she’d heard from Xander.

“Is it true? What you did?” she asked.

“What, that I killed the mage who bound me? Abso-fucking-lutely.”

The casual reply took Kimberly aback. Rieva tilted her head, waiting patiently for the next question, though being a mind reader she had to know what was coming next.

“Is that why you hate us so much? Because of that mage?”

“Yes.” Rieva’s hands slid to her shirt, plucking at the buttons to loosen it.

Kimberly blinked in surprise, then gasped when she saw the patchwork of symbols drawn in thick, pale pink scars on Rieva’s skin under the white silk. Blood magic. Considered the most twisted and perverse form of the black arts, performed only by the most dangerous of sorcerers, it was strictly forbidden by every coven across every continent.

Whatever that mage had been attempting to accomplish, by using an Other’s blood, it must have been extremely powerful and terrifically nasty business. The type that could make hearts stop, bones crumble, plagues start. The type designed to destroy minds, bodies and souls.

There was good reason it was forbidden.

“Oh, Rieva, I’m so sorry,” Kimberly whispered.

“Don’t be. Like I said, I killed the son of a bitch. And anyone else I come across who even considers walking the same path he did.” She smiled as she re-buttoned her shirt, teeth gleaming white and sharp. “I’m not so blinded by my past that I see his face in every mage I meet, though there’s good reason I have the reputation I do. It works for me. It also helps me protect those who can’t protect themselves.”

Understanding dawned. “That’s why you have all those protection spells around the Black Star. You keep the weaker Others safe.”

“Mmhm.”

Kimberly shook her head in a touch of disbelief. It was incredible to think that someone with such a terrifying reputation in her community was really such a kind and caring individual once you got to know her. Fierce and powerful, yes, but not nearly the bloodthirsty monster she was thought to be. There was no great pride in her for it, either. No smugness or tilt of her chin to suggest she enjoyed being feared. More like satisfaction in her accomplishments.

“Listen,” Rieva said, leaning forward to put a hand on Kimberly’s knee and giving her such an intense stare that it might have frightened her if she hadn’t just heard the truth behind the fearsome reputation. “You can call on me if you ever need help. I owe you after my mistake. Just tell Mister Eavesdropper over there when you’re ready to call in the favor and he’ll get word to me.”

“Thank you,” Kimberly whispered, overwhelmed. The significance of a fae creature offering an unsolicited favor was not lost on her. Everything she’d learned about the formalities surrounding fae favors in her etiquette class flew out of her head. “I don’t know what to say. I don’t have any offerings…”

Rieva snorted. “That’s the last thing I want. Don’t worry about it. You should be thanking your luck dragon for rubbing off on you.”

Kimberly had nearly forgotten about the naga. If anything, she would have thought he’d given her the very worst of bad luck after what had happened with Viper.

Then again, Cormac did say a dragon was interested in being her familiar, and Rieva wasn’t demanding a sacrifice or tribute in return for her favor, so maybe things had turned out for the best after all.

That blessing he had given her had turned out to be so much more than she could ever have imagined. Bringing her a future with a powerful familiar, owed favors by influential Others, and—dare she think it—perhaps a real relationship with Cormac, too? She would definitely have to find some way to thank Sam.

“I’ll do that. Thank you, Rieva.”

“Please, call me Rie. All my friends do.”

“Rie, then,” Kimberly said, not having to force her smile this time. “As soon as I get things sorted out with school and everything, I’ll be in touch.”

“Excellent. Think things over, and when you’re ready, let me know what you think of my idea. You’re welcome in my café anytime.”

With that, she rose with a stretch and a yawn, arching her back like a cat. The little tag on the silver collar around her throat jingled with the movement. That out of the way, she extended a hand to help Kimberly back to her feet.

The two women moved over to join Cormac, who wasn’t even bothering to pretend he was interested in the packages on the counter anymore. As soon as they were close enough, he put an arm around Kimberly again, tugging her against his side so possessively that Rieva smirked.

“Are you going to need a hand with that shower or anything else? I meant it. If you don’t want grabby-hands here pawing you and you’re not up to it yourself, I’m happy to stick around a bit longer.”

Kimberly’s breath was squeezed out of her when his grip tightened around her ribs. She poked Cormac in the side when he voiced a threatening growl at the much shorter woman, and he eased his grip a smidgen.